Czech-Israeli relations "flourishing" since the fall of communism

The first records of a Jewish presence in the Czech lands date back to the
tenth century. The contribution that the Jewish population living here
made to Czech life and culture in subsequent centuries is widely
acknowledged. But what of the Czech contribution to the Jewish state of
Israel?

Czechoslovak military support for Israel in defiance of a UN embargo is
considered to have been crucial to its survival when it was first trying
to establish itself in the face of much Arab hostility in the late 1940s.

Michael Zantovsky, the present Czech ambassador to Israel, was back
visiting Prague last week. He says many Israelis have not forgotten
Czechoslovakia's role in the foundation of Israel, and that this has been
instrumental in ensuring that the Czech Republic has enjoyed cordial
relations with the Jewish state since the collapse of communism.

"Many Israelis still remember the role that Czechoslovakia played
during the war of independence in 1948 with its supplies of arms and
aeroplanes. On the other hand there was a break in the relationship
between 1967 and 1990 after the communist government of Czechoslovakia
severed relations between the two countries. But in the last 14 years I
think we can say that the relationship has developed and flourished
anew."

Considering the long history of Jews living in this part of Europe, one
would also presume that there are many people of Czech origin now residing
in Israel.

Palestinian protest against the politics of Israel in Gaza and Rafah, photo: CTK"Alas, there are not too many - for obvious reasons. Out of the half
a million Jews who lived in Czechoslovakia before the holocaust only about
10 -15 percent survived the war, and some of them came to Israel to start
a new life. And they still live there, as do their children and
grandchildren. They are very visible in Israeli society, but they are not
numerous."

In recent years, Israel has often been criticised by the European Union
for its military activities in the Palestinian territories. Mr Zantovsky
says he doesn't envisage any major change in the EU's policy towards
events in the Middle East, but that new member-states such as the Czech
Republic can bring a fresh approach to Europe's dealings with the Jewish
state.

"Because of our own history and because of our own experience with
the policy of big aggressive powers towards small countries like
Czechoslovakia, we may have a greater understanding of some of the Israeli
positions. We may bring some perspectives of our own to the common
European foreign policy."

There are some who would say that the historical affinity between the
Czech Republic and Israel might also be down to the fact that there are
certain parallels between the expulsion of Palestinians from Israel and
the Czechs' treatment of Sudeten Germans after the Second World War. Mr
Zantovsky, however, does not feel that this issue plays a major role in
how Czechs perceive Israel.

"I don't think that this aspect plays too significant a role. It is
sometimes brought up in debates about the right of return in Israel
itself, but I don't think it plays too important a role in the perception
of Israel among Czech citizens or among people here"